In ‘Skyfall,’ James Bond fights irrelevance

In ‘Skyfall,’ James Bond fights irrelevance

The Business of Bonds (James Bond) | Millionaire Corner

The Business of Bonds (James Bond) | Millionaire Corner

The Business of Bonds (James Bond)

Where does Bond rank on the list of most popular movie franchises?

Article | Mon, 10/15/2012 - 12:13 | By Donald Liebenson

“Bond, James Bond.”
Ian Fleming’s master spy hardly needs an introduction. Fifty years after the debut of the first Bond film, Dr. No, he still has his mojo. The buzz on Skyfall, the 23^th film in the lucrative franchise and the third starring Daniel Craig, who may be reaching the pantheon of MPB (Most Popular Bond),  is sky-high.
The only thing Hollywood treasures more than a good sequel is a good franchise, even those with diminished artistic and financial returns (we’re looking at you, Friday the 13^th movies). In an industry focused on opening weekend box office, a sequel helps to minimize risk. A sequel with familiar characters comes to audiences practically pre-sold.
You can debate the best bond (Connery), the best film (Goldfinger), or the best Bond woman (Honor “Pussy Galore” Blackman). There's no controversy over the best Bond car. A new Facebook survey from Total Car Score released Monday finds the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfingerthe overwhelming choice.
But there’s no argument that James Bond is box office gold. Bond films have taken in $5.09 billion worldwide. The stakes have certainly risen. Dr. No had a $1 million budget. Skyfall’s is a reported $230 million.
Bond has a license to thrill on the collectables market as well. A Christie’s auction of Bond memorabilia on Friday brought in $2.6 million. Craig’s La Perla bathing suit from Casino Royale fetched $71,876. A poker table from the same film sold for more than $136,000, while the Aston Martin DBS from Quantum of Solace sold for $390,101. A collection of Hotel Fountainblue props from Goldfinger scored 8,750 pounds.
But the James Bond movie franchise is not the oldest. The man with the license to kill was preceded eight years earlier by a monster with a license to stomp: Godzilla.  There have been 28 Godzilla films produced by Toho Studios in Japan. Another is due in 2014.
Nor is Bond the most lucrative movie franchise. That honor is held by boy wizard Harry Potter. The eight Potter films have conjured up 7.7 billion worldwide. Rounding out the top ten movie franchises of all time after Bond are:
3. Star Wars ($5.09 billion)
4. Pirates of the  ($4.49 billion)
5, Shrek (3.72 billion)
6. Lord of the Rings ($2.93 billion)
7. Transformers ($2.66 billion)
8. Batman ($2.65 billion)
9, Twilight ($2.505 billion)

Even the best 007s are not safe, Mr Bond - Diary - News - Evening Standard

Even the best 007s are not safe, Mr Bond - Diary - News - Evening Standard

Special thanks to The Saint 007 & BJ ;

"Michael G Wilson, the James Bond producer, was speaking at a culture industry seminar during the Games and said Eon Productions will have no qualms about replacing the franchise’s latest star should Skyfall, the next film in the series, prove to be the rugged actor’s peak.

Recalling the decision to axe Craig’s predecessor, Wilson said: “Pierce [Brosnan] was well-liked and the grosses were going up. But we knew we had to change things before they started to taper off. Bond is the star. He is bigger than any actor that portrays him.” "

George Lazenby | George Lazenby: 'Bond Producers Treated Me Badly' | Contactmusic

George Lazenby | George Lazenby: 'Bond Producers Treated Me Badly' | Contactmusic


Actor George Lazenby has accused Bond producers of wrecking his career when he quit the superspy franchise after just one film, insisting movie bosses made up tales about his demanding behaviour.
The Australian star played 007 in On Her Majesty's Secret Service but decided not to sign on for another Bond adventure because he felt sure the film series was over.
He tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "They offered me millions under the table to do another one, but I thought James Bond was over. Easy Rider was the number one movie. Everyone was smoking marijuana, and that was the furthest thing from a James Bond movie. So I didn't sign the contract.
"I was badly treated after that. They (producers) told the press that I was difficult to handle, so it was hard to find work."
And Lazenby insists his portrayal of 007 in 1969 was the most believable, adding, "It's the only film that treats him like a human being. He's not a robot killer like the latest Bond... When I did it, it had more heart. There's no heart to the new Bond."

MGM sets plans for IPO - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety

MGM sets plans for IPO - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety

 MGM, the fabled studio that's made some folks piles of money and cost others their shirts, is heading back to the stock market -- news that left potential investors seeking clarity on MGM strategy beyond several big films and a TV library that may be mostly spoken for.
"If they really want to get back into the ranks of the major studios, they're going to need a huge infusion of capital and a rather ambitious production and distribution plan," said Larry Ulman, a partner at Gibson Dunn who specializes in entertainment finance. Gibson Dunn worked on MGM's last IPO, which raised more than $300 million in 1997. IPO proceeds, he said, could help MGM ramp up its slate, churning out the quality and perhaps quantity of pics that could put the Lion back on top. "If you were just going to continue to release a 'Bond' film and maybe a 'Hobbit,' it wouldn't make sense to go through all of that," he said.
There are likely to be more questions than answers for a while as MGM is the first entertainment company to pursue an IPO under new legislation effective in April that allows companies with under $1 billion in revenue to keep the process confidential until 21 days before a roadshow. Part of the JOBS Act (Jumpstart Our Business Startups), the legislation reduces public scrutiny and keeps key operating stats out of the hands of competitors for much of the IPO process.
The company is said to have hired Goldman Sachs as lead underwriter.

For Your Ears Only - David Tennant is James Bond | Radio Times

For Your Ears Only - David Tennant is James Bond | Radio Times'


Former Doctor Who star David Tennant is tackling another British cultural icon as he lends his voice to a new version of James Bond adventure On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Tennant is one of a dozen actors reading Ian Fleming’s Bond novels for 007 Reloaded, a series of audio books set for relase in September.

Bond helped rescue MGM - Entertainment News, 50 Years of James Bond, Media - Variety

Bond helped rescue MGM - Entertainment News, 50 Years of James Bond, Media - Variety

Maud Adams | Bond Girl Maud Adams Unhappy With 007'S Beer | Contactmusic

Maud Adams | Bond Girl Maud Adams Unhappy With 007'S Beer | Contactmusic

 

Former Bond Girl Maud Adams is not impressed that James Bond will drink a Heineken beer instead of his usual Vodka Martini cocktail in 'Skyfall'.

Maud Adams is unhappy James Bond is going to be seen drinking a beer in new movie 'Skyfall'.
The 67-year-old Swedish actress starred opposite Roger Moore in two Bond films, 'The Man with the Golden Gun' and 'Octopussy', and she is unimpressed that current 007 Daniel Craig will be seen supping a Heineken instead of his trademark Vodka Martin cocktail after Heineken USA agreed a deal to be featured in the movie.
Maud thinks the change of drink will make the suave British spy appear less elegant.
She told Swedish entertainment magazine EXTRA: ''Even though it's a good beer, this has gone too far.
''Martini was something elegant when I served Roger Moore and it is elegant to this day.''
in 'Octopussy' Maud played the jewel smuggling title character and was seen on screen serving Roger one of the iconic drinks.
As part of Heineken's deal Daniel will also appear in character for a TV commercial for the drinks brand which will air all over the world and will be created by Wieden & Kennedy Amsterdam with 'Skyfall' director Sam Mendes acting as a consultant.
The 44-year-old actor will also appear as the spy on special packs of the beer.
Despite attracting criticism from fans of the spy series, Daniel has defended the inclusion of a beer instead of Bond's usual tipple - prepared ''shaken not stirred'' - because the money the deal generates helps meet the cost of making and promoting the film.
He said: ''This movie costs a lot of money to make, it costs as nearly as much again if not more to promote, so we go where we can.
''There's a big furore about [the beer], but it's not what the movie's about, I promise you. We haven't sold out completely.''
'Skyfall' is set for release in October.

No Skyfall Novelization

No Skyfall Novelization

April 17, 2012

By Odd Job

Oh noes! The sky is falling!!! No Skyfall novelization. What has the world come to!?!?!  Not that this should come as much of a surprise, the current neo-Bourne reboot has not had novelizations for either entry. The last Bond movie to have a tiein book was Die Another Day ten years ago.

There are various reason for not authorizing a tiein novel, some speculated spoilers were a possible concern, probably not since there is a Video Game coming which if it should follow the same story as the movie will be chockablock with spoilers. Also publication could be delayed to coincide with the movies release.

Another possibility is the is no there is Bond Book Author of record to write the novel, the last tie in were written by the current Bond authors, John Gardner penned License To Kill and Goldeneye, Raymond Benson penned Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is not Enough, and Die Another Day.

One theory is the hectic production scheduled and late delivery of the script prevented the possibility of a tiein, fueling this speculation is the catastrophe Quantum of Solace was. The chaotic QOS script is now the root of all evil if we are to believe the official company talking point, some believe the script was so bad and being worked on to such a late date there was no way a novel could be adapted. There could be something to this however TND also had a chaotic script to screen life and still a tiein was still managed.

Another theory is poor projected profits for a tiein, which admittedly have short shelf lifespans. This idea may have some merit, however as part of the over all decision. There will likely be a few collectors editions coffee table size behind the scenes of books coming out, expensive to produce, expensive to buy, but there is collectors market that supports them. If we consider how much the book marked has changed since Die Another Day graced bookstore shelves, e publications and such, along with a tepid sales, the cost of publication (killing all those trees), along with hiring an author, for which their is none on staff right now, then it does not make as much sense to publish a novelization as Bond fans might think.

However if you are still hankering for a Skyfall novelization, never fear, the writing brigade® in the Classic Bond Forum® are cobbling together a serviceable story® , while using the registered trademark symbol (® ) with wild abandon® . If you feel like having a good laugh stop by and give the DCinB novelization a read.

Special thanks to Napoleon Solo®

Discuss this story in our forum

or

Read our book here Skyfall: The Unofficial Novelisation®

Environmental “Massacare” Committed For Skyfall in Istanbul

Environmental “Massacare” Committed For Skyfall in Istanbul

April 18, 2012

By Odd Job

Ah, jeez right after we got done defending the Bond team in the last story this story comes up. Team Bond took to chain saws chopping down two old trees meeting with protest from local residents.  No obvious defence suggests itself other than pointing out 100 year old tree can mean just about anything, doesn’t necessary mean the trees were historically significant or that the Bond team didn’t have permission to cut them.

What does appear is a pattern of  behaviour from the Bond production team dealing with local populations. Probably to their surprise the people of Turkey are not pleased as punch to have the Bond team walk all over them for a movie many will never have the luxury of watching. Vandalizing the worlds oldest bazaar for some unfathomable reason doesn’t sit well the residents.

Special thanks to “Thunderpussy”

Discuss this in our forum

Environmental Massacare Committed For Skyfall in Istanbul

The new Bond movie Skyfall allegedly commits enviromental massacare in Istanbul according to a Turkish paper.

Istanbul scenes of 25 th of the Bond series Skyfall has stirred quite a controversy in Turkey. The scenes of the movies are being shot on and over famous 600 years old Grand Baazar. During the motorcyle chase shooting over the baazar, the roof of the historical building and 500 years old adjacent wooden building was damaged.

Turkish daily Habertürk reports that 2 trees, each over hundred years old, was cut to make the shooting smoother for the crew of the movie. Enviromental activists protested alleged cuttings and said Istanbul is sacrifed for a movie on the name of promotion of the city by the movie.

During the shooting of a scene over the weekend, a motorcycle entered a historical jewelry store, located inside the Grand Bazaar, through its front window, scattering the displayed jewelry all over the floor. The owner of the store, Mete Boyberi, said his store was built between 1461 and 1489 and no measures were taken to protect it during the filming. “Who would be held accountable if my store burned down because of the motorcycle?” he asked.

On Monday, three motorcycles rode on the roof of the Grand Bazaar, built in 1785. The footage during the filming was broadcast on the evening news. The Habertürk daily reported on Wednesday that dozens of tiles cracked as a result of the motorcycles driving over the roof and that a wooden divider was put on the bazaar side so that the damaged tiles could not be seen.

According to the Habertürk report, Faruk Bektaş, a board member of the foundation of the Grand Bazaar store owners, said the motorcycles rode on plastic tiles that replaced the original tiles before filming. Bektaş said the film crew removed the tiles in an area of roughly 100 square meters and placed other tiles for the movie scenes, adding that officials from the İstanbul Governor’s Office, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality continuously oversee filming at the historic building. He argued that the movie will be useful in promoting the Grand Bazaar and boost tourism.

Art history professor Gönül Cantay told the daily that the filming should have been supervised by the Directorate General for Foundations (VGM), Turkey’s authority on historical buildings, or the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. He said it is “unacceptable” that historical buildings are damaged for the sake of a movie. Cantay added that the problems regarding the protection of the Grand Bazaar did not start with the movie and that the building has been in need of repair for a long time.

Residents of the neighborhood where the James Bond movie is being filmed have also claimed that trees, including two centuries-old trees, were cut down for the movie. The municipality denied the allegations, saying seasonal maintenance is under way.

The Grand Bazaar is known as the oldest bazaar in the world

Ursula Andress Is Still the Sexiest Bond Girl

Ursula Andress

After 50 years and 23 films, the very first Bond girl remains the sexiest by a stretch. Ursula Andress, the Swiss actress who kicked off her career as Honey Ryder "Dr. No," took nearly a fourth of the vote. The scene where she rises out of the sea in a white bikini is considered on of the sexiest moments in movie history. She isn't a Bond girl, she's the Bond girl.

Halle Berry

Probably the most recognizable name on the list, Halle Berry had already won an Academy Award when she signed on to play Jinx in "Die Another Day" alongside Pierce Brosnan. Interestingly enough, there's a scene in "Die Another Day" where Berry re-enacts Andress' iconic entrance in "Dr. No." Maybe that's the key.

Jane Seymour

"Live and Let Die" wasn't Jane Seymour's first movie, but it was the one that launched her Emmy-winning career. She played Solitaire, a Haiti-born French Voodoo psychic virgin, when she was just 22 years old. She was the youngest actress to play a Bond girl until Alison Doody ousted her in 1985 when she took on the role of Jenny Flex at 18 years old.

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